8 Ways to Boost Your Confidence Instantly

You know the saying: "Fake it 'till you make it"? The idea that, when you ACT confident, you FEEL confident! We all have our good and bad days. Sometimes a bad mood, negative people, running late to class, or even cloudy weather can put a damper on our confidence. The good news is: YOU are in charge of your mood AND your level of confidence! There are so many easy ways you can quickly turn a bad day around, boost your mood, and increase your confidence all at the same time.

1. Eat "good for you" foods.Eat well, FEEL well! You are what you eat, so when you fuel your body with whole, nutritious foods you will likely feel more energized, alert, and ready to take on whatever the day may throw at you. Eating plenty of fiber can help slow the rate of absorption of sugar into your bloodstream, decreasing the chance that you'll get that burst of energy followed by a mood swing that sends you straight into crash mode. I like to get my fiber from lots of green, leafy veggies, oatmeal, berries, mixed nuts, and maybe even a healthy dessert if I am feeling like I need something sweet.

Feeling down? Crank up an up-beat tune and have a mini-dance party. Music is a great way to not only boost your mood, but make you feel more confident too! When you are working out especially, try to listen to songs that make you feel empowered, strong, and ready to conquer that extra set of burpees.

It may sound silly, but improving your posture and standing with your shoulders back, chin high, and eyes forward has been proven to instantly boost your confidence. Next time you catch yourself slouching, remind yourself to stand tall and move forward with confidence. Find your "Wonder Woman" pose and make a conscious effort to spend some time embracing it.

4. Pamper yourself.

Because you deserve it! Take yourself to the spa, get a facial, get your nails done - whatever you feel like doing to treat yo'self - DO IT! Maybe you just spend a little extra time on your skincare routine at home in the morning to refresh and relax, maybe you go for a stroll outside to spend some time alone, maybe you take a relaxed morning and just sip some coffee while you get around; just make sure you enjoy yourself.

5. SMILE!This may be the easiest confidence boosting hack on the list. All you have to do is SMILE! Just like taking a power stance, smiling has been proven to instantly boost your mood and your confidence. Especially when you are going in to a new situation, putting your best face forward will do wonders for feeling like your most confident self.

6. Sweat it out.

Smiling may be the EASIEST tip on the list, but sweating it out in an intense workout is my favorite way to instantly boost my confidence. Exercise releases endorphins, which trigger a positive feeling in your body, boosts your mood, and majorly ups your confidence. Not to mention, who DOESN'T feel unstoppable after smashing out that extra set of squat jumps or reaching a fitness goal you set for yourself?

Your body hears EVERY thought that runs through your mind - make sure they are positive! If you wouldn't say it to someone else, why would you say it to yourself? Try thinking (or saying out loud) at least THREE things you love about yourself right when you first wake up in the morning. You will be surprised at how much of an impact telling yourself positive affirmations will have on your confidence throughout the rest of the day!

8. Dress like you mean it.

Let your personal style shine by wearing bright colors, fun patterns, and clothes that just make you FEEL confident. 99% of the time I wear gym clothes because I do spend a lot of time at the gym or being active. But outside of the gym, my FAVORITE style (especially during the summer) is a romper. I love how easy they make putting an outfit together, because it is just one piece. They are super comfy and great for days spent out and about in Kansas City. I got this long sleeve floral ruffle romper from The Shopping Bag, and it is one of my absolute faves! Usually I struggle with finding a romper long enough (#TallGirlProbs), but this one is actually longer in the back so it fits my long legs and torso perfectly. I actually have a slight obsession with long sleeve rompers and The Shopping Bag has TONS of options on their website, www.theshoppingbag.com.

One final thought: YOU are the only person in charge of your confidence. There is nothing more beautiful than being comfortable in your own skin! In my opinion, being your true, authentic self and embracing your flaws and imperfections is the true meaning of confidence. I found this quote online and it holds SO MUCH truth:

"We tend to overestimate how much people notice our moods or attitudes," said Eastman. "But the truth is, everyone is so busy worrying about themselves that they're not going to notice if you're having an off day."